Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110659.
An ordinance authorizing Newbold's Brew trading as Brew to construct, own and maintain an 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING open-air sidewalk cafe at 1900 South 15th Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Excuse me. I'm sorry. Councilman Kelly, your light is on.
Yes, Madam President. Unfortunately I have other Council business and I would like to be excused. I would like to be on record as voting aye on all other bills.
11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Please continue calling the roll, sir.
Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 110666.
An ordinance authorizing Campanaro Consulting doing business as Village Belle Restaurant & Bar to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 757 South Front 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 110667.
An ordinance authorizing Gabriel Bravo to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 1201 South 9th Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 17 -- I'm sorry, 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 110668.
An ordinance authorizing Watkins Drinkery to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 1712 South 10th Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill. 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 110661.
An ordinance amending Chapter 20-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Councilmanic Districts," by revising the boundaries of the Councilmanic Districts as they were established by Bill No. 110547 (approved 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING September 23, 2011).
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye. 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 110341.
An ordinance amending 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Service and Other Businesses," by adding a new Section regulating an employer's treatment of gratuities left by patrons for employees, including, but not limited to, a requirement that all gratuities be paid over to employees without deduction.
Thank you, 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Madam President. I'd just like to briefly discuss this bill before we vote. I agree with the policy behind this bill, but I think this bill goes further than necessary to prevent abuses with respect to employers who have employees who get tips. Unlike recent Council enactments of protections of employees that apply to every employee of a business and all businesses that get City contracts, this applies to businesses that get no City support and have to go into business on their own. This bill is more burdensome on these businesses in terms of dollar paid than the gross receipts tax applicable to these businesses. The restaurant industry, for example, it applies to has average margins of to percent, and 60 percent fail within the first year. This bill would cause marginal -- this bill would close marginal businesses and cost jobs, not at The Palm or at Buddakan, but in 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING your neighborhood. There is a way to correct and prevent abuses and I would support a bill mandating customer notice if restaurants allow tips to be taken -- or credit card fees to be taken out of tips and a policy limiting a reduction to weighted average, which is consistent with federal law applicable today. This is the same as a targeted tax increase. The bill sponsor recently said in the context of other recent tax bills, Are you for or against a tax? This is a tax increase targeted at businesses, and I urge my colleagues to vote no for this tax increase.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. While I respect Councilman Green's opinion on this one, I totally disagree with him. I think all 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING this bill is about is being fair, giving people what the customer intended to give them, which is their full tip. When I give a tip to somebody on my credit card -- by the way, on the record, I usually don't get to Buddakan, but I do go to Little Pete's and Midtown and those places. When I give that tip, I expect it to go to the server. I think it's very simple. I don't think it's about tax increases. I don't think it's about chasing businesses out. It's about giving people what they deserve, and I'll be supporting this bill and I hope everyone else does. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. I think the bill speaks 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING for itself and it speaks to plain fairness, but I would like to thank Councilman Green for his continued scrutiny of my bills. I feel as if I have an extra legislative assistant, so I'd like to thank him. (Laughter.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm very pleased to be of service to my colleagues, and glad to know that it's appreciated. I just would like to respond to the other distinguished Councilman at-large with a similar name, and that is to say, I am perfectly for a notice on bills that people are paying by credit card that a portion of the tip will -the credit card servicing processing fee will be taken out of the server's tip. I think it's totally appropriate and the 11/17/11 - STATED - 2ND READING consumer has a right to know that when they're leaving their tip. That is one of the solutions to this problem that will prevent abuse, and I would be in favor of that. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. All right. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please call the roll.
Councilwoman Krajewski is voting aye. Councilwoman Miller is voting aye. Councilman O'Neill.
Aye. The ayes are 14; the nays are two. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Applause.)
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110670.
An ordinance amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Rodman Street, Juniper Street, South Street and Broad Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.